Why Does Composite Manufacturing Require Dust Extraction?
A universal essential across industries, dust extraction systems are of high importance to protect workers, avoid impairment/contamination of goods and prevent/handle combustible dust igniting. Critical for many industries, this article will look at the significance of dust control for composite manufacturing.
Used everywhere in today’s world, the materials that become composites bring their own risks for the manufacturer.
Materials Used in Composites
Referring to the aerospace industry, the two classes of polymer resins most commonly used for aerospace composites are thermoset and thermoplastics. The epoxy resins in thermoset-made components are strong, easy to make and can withstand moderate temperatures.
However, their heat release rate cannot handle high temperatures. For aerospace components that experience high temperatures, other thermoset resins like phenolics with a low heat release would be used.
Due to these properties, different thermoset composites would be used in different areas of the aircraft. The epoxy resin components would commonly be for the interior of the aircraft, while the phenolic components are used in areas under higher heat stress.
How Can Composite Dust Harm a Person?
The dust & fibre that comes from cutting, sanding and machining composites is what can harm operators. Fine enough to affect the lungs, nose, throat, upper respiratory tract, eyes and skin, the dust can generally cause irritation and respiratory issues.
This can be seen in silica dust and carbon fibre dust, as both are associated with lung damage and have ruled limitations of exposure.
Other hazardous dust can include the dust from polyurethane resin as it is toxic to humans. The dust from carbon nanotubes (known for being 20 times stronger than carbon fibre) is considered to be as dangerous to a person’s lungs as asbestos.
What Makes the Composite Dusts Explosive?
A risk of many dusts is they can become combustible and composites are no different. In conditions with enough dust and oxygen, the dust can ignite causing a sudden explosion.
To manage dust and the risk of explosion in the factory environment it needs proper extraction close to the source.
Once extracted from the general environment, there is still a risk of explosion within the dust extraction system. To handle this risk, explosion panels are fitted to dust extraction systems.
How Does Explosion Panel Solve the Combustibility of Dust?
As dust extraction systems suck in air to gather the dust polluting it, the concentrated volume of dust inside the extractor becomes a risk for the dust to explode.
Before it is gathered in a waste bin, typically located at the bottom of the extractor, the volume of dust inside the unit still has a chance of igniting so the construction must be adapted to handle the explosion. If ignited the dust burns rapidly, causing a sudden change in pressure in the extraction system. Once this pressure reaches the explosion panel, the panel will open to absorb some of the energy from the ignition. Preventing damage to the structural integrity and proceeding to exhaust the explosion to a safe exterior area or venting device to diminish the flame.
How Do Manufacturers Control Their Dust Levels?
To control all these risks, dust control systems come in many designs and sizes, catering to the materials and processes.
Having supplied extraction machinery for years, a great example of dust extraction set up from one of our customers is composite specialist Permali. Their extraction system including:
- Multiple extractor units for a high extraction rate with fitted explosion panels.
- Fettling booth for a direct and localised extraction.
Fettling booths and benches can be connected to the main duct system as it is in these booths that the manual processes such as cutting, sanding and machining take place. Requiring direct extraction to protect the worker.
Another option we’ve supplied to the industry includes portable extractors, perfect for manufacturers that produce less dust.
Dust Extraction for Composite Manufacturing
In conclusion, the dust from handling composites is a risk in many ways but can easily be resolved. By installing dust extraction systems suitable to manage your dust output, you can remove and control the risks of handling composites.
With no shortage of options to customise your extraction system to your requirements, feel free to call us at +44(0)1922 45 8000 for further guidance.
Furthermore, to upgrade, expand or replace your current extraction units/system, check out our Dust & Fume Extraction Range.
Pura 2000 Clean Air Work Station
Pura's 2000 line of Horizontal Laminar Flow Clean Air Work Stations are engineered to enhance the performance of the cabinet and the overall airflow efficiency of the cleanroom.
Vokes - Air ScandDust Dry Dust and Smoke Air Filter Unit SDM60
A dust collector that is designed to separate dry dust, powder and smoke in different industrial applications. Comes with a built in reverse pulse jet filter cleaning system, integral fan and dust collection bucket. Hepa after filters are connected to the clean air exit ducting.
- Stock No
- EB1977
- Category
- Dry Dust Filters
- Model
- Vokes SDM 60
- Year of Manufacture
- 2011
- Approx Duty CFM / M³/Hr
- 2354 // 4000M3/hr
- Filter Area ft² / m²
- 650 // 60M2
- Other Info
- 4 Cartridge Filters / inlet 295mmØ
- Condition
- From a working environment, Good Condition
- Refurbished Price [?]
- £ Login or Register for price.
- Sold As Seen Price [?]
- £ Login or Register for price.
Vokes - Air ScandDust Dry Dust and Smoke Air Filter Unit SMD90
A dust collector that is designed to separate dry dust, powder and smoke in different industrial applications. Comes with a built in reverse pulse jet filter cleaning system, integral fan and dust collection bucket. Hepa after filters are connected to the clean air exit ducting.
- Stock No
- EB1979
- Category
- Dry Dust Filters
- Model
- Vokes SDM90
- Year of Manufacture
- 2011
- Approx Duty CFM / M³/Hr
- 3531//6000
- Filter Area ft² / m²
- 970 // 90M2
- Other Info
- 6 Cartridge Filters //inlet 295 Ø
- Condition
- From a working environment, Excellent Condition, Current Model
- Refurbished Price [?]
- £ Login or Register for price.
Nederman Auto M-Z90 ATEX Rated Dust Collector - 11kW / 15Hp
ATEX Rated Auto M-Z90 Baghouse dust collectors with shaker cleaning (no starter) is designed for intermittent use and suitable for various applications that generate light to medium volumes of dry dust. ATEX rated explosion relief panels and up-scoops feature for each of the three chambers.
- Stock No
- EB2015
- Category
- Dry Dust Filters
- Model
- Nederman Auto Z90
- Year of Manufacture
- 2014
- Approx Duty CFM / M³/Hr
- Approx. 7000 // 12000
- Filter Area ft² / m²
- 970ft2 // 90M2
- Other Info
- Up-Scoop Explosion Ducts
- Condition
- From a working environment, Good Condition, Current Model
- Refurbished Price [?]
- £ Login or Register for price.
- Sold As Seen Price [?]
- £ Login or Register for price.
Riley DFRPC 3-12 Down Flow Reverse Pulse Cleaning Dust Extractor
An Ex demo and refurbished with new filters, this Down Flow Reverse Pulse Cleaning (DFRPC) Dust Extractors is from Riley Surface World.
Built in the United Kingdom these extractors incorporate features that we believe will rival any of the current extractors available on the market today and at a very competitive price.
- Stock No
- EC2030
- Category
- Dry Dust Filters
- Model
- Riley DFRPC 3-12 80/20 Fr media
- Year of Manufacture
- 2023
- Approx Duty CFM / M³/Hr
- 4,944 // 8,400
- Filter Area ft² / m²
- 1200 ft2 // 113M2
- Other Info
- British Made 12 New Cartridges Fitted
- Condition
- Refurbished by RSW, Excellent Condition, Ex demonstration, Current Model
- Availability
- Available for immediate collection
- Refurbished Price [?]
- £ Login or Register for price.
Dust Extraction Int Ltd Model 25M - 4kW 5.5 Hp Dust Extractor
This second hand 25M is compact versatile and robust self-contained auto-shake clean filter using 12 internal bags and roof mounted multi vee-pocket after filters.
- Stock No
- EC2032
- Category
- Dry Dust Filters
- Model
- Dust Extraction Int Ltd 25M
- Year of Manufacture
- 08 2003
- Approx Duty CFM / M³/Hr
- 1500 - 2500
- Filter Area ft² / m²
- 250 - 25
- Other Info
- Filter shaker bag extractor
- Condition
- From a working environment, Excellent Condition
- Refurbished Price [?]
- £ Login or Register for price.
- Sold As Seen Price [?]
- £ Login or Register for price.
Zubler V7000 Dust Collector
Zubler single suction units are highly versatile, used for a wide range of low dust and fume applications, and ideal for use in dental laboratories.
- Stock No
- EC2038
- Category
- Dry Dust Filters
- Model
- Zubler V7000
- Year of Manufacture
- Unused
- Approx Duty CFM / M³/Hr
- 53-80 // 90-135 @ 34 in wg // 85mbar
- Filter Area ft² / m²
- 43 + 75 // .4 + .7
- Other Info
- Suction of 20-40 L/S
- Condition
- Excellent Condition, Unused, Current Model
- Sold As Seen Price [?]
- £ Login or Register for price.
Zubler V7000 Dust Collector
Zubler single suction units are highly versatile, used for a wide range of low dust and fume applications, and ideal for use in dental laboratories.
- Stock No
- EC2040
- Category
- Dry Dust Filters
- Model
- Zubler V7000
- Approx Duty CFM / M³/Hr
- 53-80 // 90-135 @ 34 in wg // 85mbar
- Filter Area ft² / m²
- 43 + 75 // .4 + .7
- Other Info
- Suction of 20-40 L/S
- Condition
- Excellent Condition, Unused, Current Model, Seen powered at RSW
- Sold As Seen Price [?]
- £ Login or Register for price.
Zubler V7000 Dust Collector
Zubler single suction units are highly versatile, used for a wide range of low dust and fume applications, and ideal for use in dental laboratories.
- Stock No
- EC2041
- Category
- Dry Dust Filters
- Model
- Zubler V7000
- Approx Duty CFM / M³/Hr
- 53-80 // 90-135 @ 34 in wg // 85mbar
- Filter Area ft² / m²
- 43 + 75 // .4 + .7
- Other Info
- Suction of 20-40 L/S
- Condition
- Excellent Condition, Unused, Current Model, Seen powered at RSW
- Sold As Seen Price [?]
- £ Login or Register for price.
Zubler V7000 Dust Collector
Zubler single suction units are highly versatile, used for a wide range of low dust and fume applications, and ideal for use in dental laboratories.
- Stock No
- EC2042
- Category
- Dry Dust Filters
- Model
- Zubler V7000
- Approx Duty CFM / M³/Hr
- 53-80 // 90-135 @ 34 in wg // 85mbar
- Filter Area ft² / m²
- 43 + 75 // .4 + .7
- Other Info
- Suction of 20-40 L/S
- Condition
- Excellent Condition, Unused, Current Model, Seen powered at RSW
- Sold As Seen Price [?]
- £ Login or Register for price.
Airmaster Auto M60 E Food Standards ATEX rated Dust Extraction Unit
The Auto M60E, 7.5kW / 10Hp is a compact versatile and robust self-contained auto-shake clean filter unit using multi vee-pocket filter elements. Designed for use in the food industry this unit has stainless steel ducting, twin ADIX flameless explosion venting units and a stainless steel blowback valve.
- Stock No
- EC2092
- Category
- Dry Dust Filters
- Model
- Airmaster Auto M60 E ATEX
- Year of Manufacture
- 2012
- Approx Duty CFM / M³/Hr
- 3500 // 6000
- Filter Area ft² / m²
- 600 // 60
- Other Info
- Flameless ATEX Explosion Relief System
- Condition
- From a working environment, Excellent Condition
J K Filters 2-8 Reverse Pulse Dust Extraction, Cartridge Air Filter Unit
A used Down Flow Reverse Pulse Cleaning (DFRPC) dust extraction unit built in the United Kingdom, these extractors incorporate features that would rival current extractor models available on the market today.
- Stock No
- EC2094
- Category
- Dry Dust Filters
- Model
- J K Filters DFRPC 2-8
- Year of Manufacture
- 2012
- Approx Duty CFM / M³/Hr
- 3250 // 5600
- Filter Area ft² / m²
- 807 // 75
- Other Info
- Compact modern unit with great features
- Condition
- From a working environment, Excellent Condition, Current Model
- Refurbished Price [?]
- £ Login or Register for price.
- Sold As Seen Price [?]
- £ Login or Register for price.
Tilghman (Wheelabrator) 4 Cartridge, Reverse Pulse Dust Extractor
This second hand Tilghman extraction unit with 4.0kW / 5.3 Hp motor is an extremely versatile fine dust filter, capable of handling numerous dust types over a wide range of applications. Pulse jet cleaning system, inlet deflector and large dust collection bucket.
- Stock No
- EC2096
- Category
- Dry Dust Filters
- Model
- Tilghman (Wheelabrator) 4 Cartridge Reverse Pulse
- Approx Duty CFM / M³/Hr
- 3300 // 5600 Approx.
- Filter Area ft² / m²
- 900ft2 // 85M2 Approx.
- Other Info
- Quick Release Vertical Cartridges
- Condition
- From a working environment
- Refurbished Price [?]
- £ Login or Register for price.
- Sold As Seen Price [?]
- £ Login or Register for price.
Donaldson Torit (DCE) Unimaster UMA Portable Dust Extraction unit
A small and portable UMA dust control unit with an adjustable inlet, The dust control unit is the most economical and effective solution for a diverse range of nuisance dust problems.
- Stock No
- EC2101
- Category
- Dry Dust Filters
- Model
- Donaldson Torit (DCE) DCE UMA Dust Extractor
- Year of Manufacture
- Unknown
- Approx Duty CFM / M³/Hr
- 400 // 680
- Filter Area ft² / m²
- 40 // 4
- Refurbished Price [?]
- £ Login or Register for price.
- Sold As Seen Price [?]
- £ Login or Register for price.
Donaldson Torit (DCE) DCE Unimaster MM2 Dust Extraction Unit
A small UMA MiniMaster MM dust control unit, this dust control unit is one of the most economical and effective solutions for a diverse range of nuisance dust problems.
- Stock No
- EC2102
- Category
- Dry Dust Filters
- Model
- Donaldson Torit (DCE) Minimaster MM20 A
- Year of Manufacture
- Unknown
- Approx Duty CFM / M³/Hr
- 400 // 680
- Filter Area ft² / m²
- 40 // 4
- Other Info
- Secondary Filter Box
- Condition
- Good Condition
- Refurbished Price [?]
- £ Login or Register for price.
- Sold As Seen Price [?]
- £ Login or Register for price.
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